Tomorrow is the first day of Summerlicious presented by American Express. The 2013 promotion runs from July 5 to 21, with Toronto's finest restaurants offering three-course prix fixe (fixed price) lunch menus priced at $15, $20 and $25, and dinner menus priced at $25, $35 and $45.

"With nearly 200 restaurants, this year's Summerlicious is bigger and better than ever. It's fantastic value for diners and great for Toronto's restaurant industry," said Mayor Rob Ford. "I encourage everyone in Toronto to take this opportunity to sample some of the best restaurants our great city has to offer."

Since the City launched Winterlicious and Summerlicious in 2003, participating restaurants have served nearly four million meals as part of the program and generated more than $178 million in economic activity.

An Ipsos Reid survey conducted during Summerlicious in 2012 shows there is near unanimous support for the program, with 95 per cent of restaurants and 99 per cent of diners agreeing that it is a valuable program provided by the City of Toronto. The data also shows that customer satisfaction with the program is at an all-time high and the program is a boon for business during otherwise slow periods.

"This year we anticipate that $24 million will be directed to the City's restaurant industry as a result of the 'Licious programs," said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic Development Committee. "By offering an opportunity for diners to experience great restaurants at a great price, everybody wins and the City prospers as a result."

American Express returns as presenting sponsor for the program for the 10th consecutive year. The company has supported the restaurant promotion since 2004, even offering extra incentives to its card members. New for this year, diners can receive a $10 credit on their monthly account statement when they use their Amex card to pay for their meal.

"With Summerlicious, our continued goal is to highlight Toronto's diverse restaurant industry, while also providing our card members a great benefit with their American Express Cards," says Abhijeet Rege, VP Merchant Marketing, American Express Canada. "Summerlicious has certainly become a treat that Torontonians look forward to and it gives many of our city's smaller restaurants a chance to shine among the best of Toronto."

Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made directly with the participating dining establishments. The complete list of participating restaurants is available at http://www.toronto.ca/summerlicious. Diners can also get updated information on cancellations and open reservations, as restaurants will be posting their availability daily.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.